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Sox using caution with Dye, Quentin

Sox using caution with Dye, Quentin

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By Scott Merkin
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MLB.com |

CINCINNATI -- Jermaine Dye will be out of action for the remainder of the White Sox Interleague series against the Reds, giving the right fielder three straight days to rest his sore left calf when factoring in Monday's scheduled off-day.

"The only way we are going to use him is if we have to pinch-hit for someone, the pitcher, in an important situation," said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen on resting the top home run producer in his lineup. "Hopefully, with today and tomorrow and the day off, he will be back to normal."

Dye suffered the injury when he was rounding third and trying to score from second on a Paul Konerko single during a home series against Oakland to start June, but got a late, emergency stop sign from third-base coach Jeff Cox. On Friday, Dye said the injury basically needed daily treatment to keep him ready, but with three hits in his last 28 at-bats, Guillen decided to give a break to one of his team leaders.

"I expect him to be sore, but it [got] to the point where I don't want any of my players dragging on the field and not playing at their best," Guillen said. "He's been playing like that for one week, a week and a half, almost two weeks.

"It's not fair for him or for us to put a guy out there and risk a pretty big injury. That's why we are going to make the lineup like that, and hopefully when he comes back, he'll be better."

With Dye out of action, the White Sox will finish this eight-game, rain-shortened Interleague road trip to National League ballparks without three of their four biggest run producers. Jim Thome has been limited to pinch-hitting duties with no designated hitter being used over this past road stretch, while Carlos Quentin continues to work his way back from a bout with plantar fasciitis in his left foot.

Guillen spoke Saturday in generalities about Quentin's condition. Guillen said that he was doing a lot better, but the White Sox manager still had to see Quentin out on the field doing routine baseball activities before a next step was considered. Quentin's extended absence gives Guillen even greater cause to be careful with Dye's injury.

"Well, we have to go day by day," Guillen said. "I don't think this thing is a DL situation. I hope not. I don't think it should be. But that's what we don't want, a DL situation, having him and Quentin out for a long time. That's why we have to be really, really careful with what we are doing with him."

On the White Sox Minor League health front, fast-rising outfield prospect Jordan Danks will have his left wrist splinted up for a week after suffering a sprain while checking his swing during an at-bat. The younger brother of White Sox starter John Danks will be brought back slowly, according to White Sox athletic trainer Herm Schneider.

Danks, 22, and a left-handed hitter, is batting .315 with six home runs, 16 doubles and 32 RBIs between stops at Class A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham this season.

Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.